Safety latch improvement for tubular elevator

Abstract

An apparatus for a pipe handling system includes a first bail, a second bail, and a pipe elevator coupled to the first bail and the second bail. The pipe elevator includes a main body, a door, and a latch-and-lock system. The latch-and-lock system includes a catch coupled to the main body, a lock handle coupled to the door, a locking latch coupled to the door, and a verification lock coupled to the door. The verification lock includes a verification lock body, a verification lock pin partially disposed within the verification lock body, a detection pin coupled to the verification lock pin, and a spring disposed within the verification lock body and surrounding the verification lock pin. The verification lock body includes an elongated portion and a body detection pin slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe elevator, comprising:
 a main body;   a door; and   a latch-and-lock system comprising:
 a catch coupled to the main body; 
 a lock handle coupled to the door; 
 a locking latch coupled to the door; and 
 a verification lock coupled to the door, the verification lock comprising:
 a verification lock body comprising:
 an elongated portion; and 
 a body detection pin slot; 
 
 a verification lock pin partially disposed within the verification lock body; 
 a detection pin coupled to the verification lock pin; and 
 a spring disposed within the verification lock body and surrounding the verification lock pin. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The pipe elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the verification lock body comprises an extension abutting a lower portion of the lock handle to prevent a rotation of the lock handle about a lock handle pin. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the detection pin is outside the body detection pin slot when the latch-and-lock system is in a locked position, such that the detection pin enables rotation of the verification lock about the verification lock pin. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe elevator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the verification lock body further comprises:
 a first channel defined by a first elongated portion; and 
 a second channel defined by a second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a shoulder 
   the verification lock pin further comprises:
 a pin head; 
 a plunger disposed in the second channel and comprising a stopper end, wherein the spring surrounds the plunger and is situated between the shoulder and the stopper end; and 
 a contact portion disposed in the first channel and comprising a contact end distal from the pin head. 
   
     
     
         5 . The pipe elevator of  claim 4 , wherein the stopper end of the plunger has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the first channel and wherein the stopper end abuts an end of the second channel that is distal from the pin head. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe elevator of  claim 5 , further comprising a connector plate comprising:
 a connector body coupled to the door;   a bracket coupled to the connector body and comprising a bracket detection pin slot; and   a pin receiver formed in the connector body, wherein the first elongated portion of the verification lock body is disposed within the pin receiver.   
     
     
         7 . The pipe elevator of  claim 6 , wherein the detection pin is disposed within the body detection pin slot and the bracket detection pin slot when the latch-and-lock system is in an unlocked position, such that the detection pin prevents rotation of the verification lock body about the verification lock pin. 
     
     
         8 . A pipe handling system, comprising:
 a first bail;   a second bail; and   a pipe elevator coupled to the first bail and the second bail, the pipe elevator comprising:
 a main body; 
 a door; and 
 a latch-and-lock system comprising:
 a catch coupled to the main body; 
 a lock handle coupled to the door; 
 a locking latch coupled to the door; and 
 a verification lock coupled to the door, the verification lock comprising:
 a verification lock body comprising: 
  an elongated portion; and 
  a body detection pin slot; 
 a verification lock pin partially disposed within the verification lock body; 
 a detection pin coupled to the verification lock pin; and 
 a spring disposed within the verification lock body and surrounding the verification lock pin. 
 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The pipe handling system of  claim 8 , wherein the first bail is coupled to the main body via a first bail latch of the main body and the second bail is coupled to the main body via a second bail latch of the main body. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe handling system of  claim 8 , further comprising a connector plate comprising:
 a connector body coupled to the door;   a bracket coupled to the connector body and comprising a bracket detection pin slot; and   a pin receiver formed in the connector body.   
     
     
         11 . The pipe handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the verification lock body further comprises:
 a first channel defined by a first elongated portion disposed within the pin receiver of the connector plate; and   a second channel defined by a second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a shoulder.   
     
     
         12 . The pipe handling system of  claim 11 , wherein the verification lock pin further comprises:
 a pin head;   a plunger disposed in the second channel and comprising a stopper end, wherein the spring surrounds the plunger and is situated between the shoulder and the stopper end; and   a contact portion disposed in the first channel and comprising a contact end distal from the pin head.   
     
     
         13 . The pipe handling system of  claim 12 , wherein the stopper end of the plunger has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the first channel and wherein the stopper end abuts an end of the second channel that is distal from the pin head. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe handling system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the detection pin is disposed within the body detection pin slot and the bracket detection pin slot when the latch-and-lock system is in an unlocked position, such that the detection pin prevents rotation of the verification lock body about the verification lock pin; and   the detection pin is outside the body detection pin slot when the latch-and-lock system is in a locked position, such that the detection pin enables rotation of the verification lock about the verification lock pin.   
     
     
         15 . A lock verification apparatus, comprising:
 a verification lock body comprising:
 an elongated portion; and 
 a body detection pin slot; 
   a verification lock pin partially disposed within the verification lock body;   a detection pin coupled to the verification lock pin;   a spring disposed within the verification lock body and surrounding the verification lock pin; and   a connector plate.   
     
     
         16 . The lock verification apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the connector plate comprises:
 a connector body;   a bracket coupled to the connector body and comprising a bracket detection pin slot; and   a pin receiver formed in the connector body.   
     
     
         17 . The lock verification apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the verification lock body further comprises:
 a first channel defined by a first elongated portion disposed within the pin receiver of the connector plate; and   a second channel defined by a second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a shoulder.   
     
     
         18 . The lock verification apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the verification lock pin further comprises:
 a pin head;   a plunger disposed in the second channel and comprising a stopper end, wherein the spring surrounds the plunger and is situated between the shoulder and the stopper end; and   a contact portion disposed in the first channel and comprising a contact end distal from the pin head.   
     
     
         19 . The lock verification apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the stopper end of the plunger has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the first channel and wherein the stopper end abuts an end of the second channel that is distal from the pin head. 
     
     
         20 . The lock verification apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the detection pin is disposed within the body detection pin slot and the bracket detection pin slot when the lock verification apparatus is in an unlocked position, such that the detection pin prevents rotation of the verification lock body about the verification lock pin; and   the detection pin is outside the body detection pin slot when the lock verification apparatus is in a locked position, such that the detection pin enables rotation of the verification lock about the verification lock pin.